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| (From L to R) YLS Secretary Olivia L. Benson; YLS Treasurer Jermaine A. Brookshire, Jr.; YLS Chair Paige M. Vaillancourt; CBA Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Vianca T. Malick; and YLS Chair-Elect Sara Bonaiuto |
The Connecticut Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section (YLS) hosted its annual leadership retreat on August 8-9 at Foxwoods Casino in Ledyard. The YLS Executive Committee holds this event each summer to familiarize new members of the committee with the duties of their leadership roles and to present awards to members of the committee for their service during the previous bar year.
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| CBA Vice President Rowena A. Moffett provided welcome remarks during the retreat. |
The retreat began with welcome remarks from YLS Chair Paige M. Vaillancourt and CBA Vice President Rowena A. Moffett, who introduced herself to the members of the YLS Executive Committee. “My goal here is to welcome you, to thank you, and to make sure you know how valued the young lawyers are to the CBA,” stated Vice President Moffett. “During lunch, former United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut Vanessa R. Avery provided the retreat’s keynote presentation. In her speech, Attorney Avery focused on the various recent attacks on the rule of law in the United States. “Unchecked power is the most significant threat to democracy and our way of life here in America,” warned Attorney Avery. “The question is how we are going to continue to allow our country to be governed. We are a nation for the people by the people.” She praised the members of the YLS Executive Committee for actively pursuing the responsibility of leadership and encouraged them to pursue careers in government roles to help defend the integrity of our nation’s institutions.
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| Former United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut Vanessa R. Avery provided the retreats keynote speech. |
In addition to the keynote speech and the various trainings held throughout the day, the retreat included the presentation of awards to four YLS Executive Committee members for their service during the 2024-2025 bar year.
Star of the Year Award:
Jenna Cutler received the Star of the Year Award for her work as a YLS diversity director. She organized the 2025 Diversity Dinner, one of the most successful events of the bar year which was attended by over 60 members and focused on the current state of DEI in the United States.
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| Jenna Cutler received the Star of the Year Award during the retreat. |
Leadership Award:
Kyle A. Bechet received the Leadership Award for his work as a YLS membership director as well as his commitment and passion, which has been key to the section’s success over the past bar year. He helped members of the YLS plan many successful non-CLE events throughout the year.
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| Kyle A. Bechet received the Leadership Award from 2024-2025 YLS Chair Vianca T. Malick. |
Rookie of the Year Award
Hugh T. Sokolski, Jr. received the Rookie of the Year Award for surpassing his duties as a committee chair. As an active member of the CBA’s LGBT Section, he helped organize the YLS’s donation to the Annual One Big Event Gala and was integral to the planning and organization of the YLS Holiday Party.
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| Hugh T. Sokolski, Jr. received the Rookie of the Year Award at the retreat. |
Volunteer of the Year Award:
Jermaine A. Brookshire, Jr., received the Volunteer of the Year Award for providing over 121 hours of pro bono and community service during the past bar year. His continued commitment to pro bono and community service remains unparalleled.
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| Jermaine A. Brookshire, Jr. received the Volunteer of the Year Award from 2024-2025 YLS Chair VIanca T. Malick. |